Shantytown educates University about plight of homeless

Students live in cardboard shanties for five days to benefit Project Connect, RESTOC | October 21, 2005

A shantytown sprung up on campus Sunday, Oct. 23. With a theme of "Children Shan’t be Homeless," students educated people about the plight of the homeless in Cincinnati and around the world. The event also raised money for Project Connect and RESTOC.

Shantytown 2005 began at 2:00 p.m. when students began building cardboard shanties on the academic mall where they lived for several days. Shanties stayed on campus through Friday, Oct. 28.

University clubs and organizations donated $50 to build a shanty. Students also contributed by giving a meal from their meal plan, the cost of which was donated to the Shantytown fund drive. T-shirts were also sold to raise money.

The money donated to Project Connect helps educate people about the cycle of homelessness and how to break it. The program works closely with the Cincinnati Public Schools and is the only program in Greater Cincinnati exclusively serving children experiencing homelessness.

A portion of the money raised is also going to the Race Street Tenant Organizing Cooperative (RESTOC). This organization helps to provide affordable housing to low-income families in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Shantytown is working with the X-Action STAR program to adopt an apartment.
Back